Path to Publishing: 3 Steps, how easy is that!

The very first thing is to write the entire first draft.

Step 1

While polishing up that first draft, get a subscription to Publisher's Marketplace. Make a list of agents/editors who are selling/buying a manuscript similar to yours.

Continue examining the market. Occasionally skim Publisher's Marketplace. Make a list of "comp" titles. 

Step 2

Prepare the query. If you’d like a template to get you started: check out this template.

Using the list from step 1, start submitting. You can get agent/editor submission information from Publisher's Marketplace (above). Agentquery.com is a good source for agent information.

Keep track of the queries. I’m old school so used paper. I used 3x5 cards because they are big enough and small enough. If you’re more of a spreadsheet person, do that.

Send the submissions. Keep track of those as well. Include what you sent, etc. At the time you send them, you may think you would never forget, but consider the possibility that you will forget. There is a good chance you will want the information later. For example, what if you want to query that same person again in the future? In that case, it would be good to know what you had sent before.

Meanwhile, start working on something else. It will make the waiting easier.

Step 3

“Find” an agent and/or sell the book.

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Other related resources:

A podcast interview about scene structure. It is focused on romance, but the theory applies to all genres.

Scene structure chart.

Blog post I wrote for workshopping groups: 

WORKSHOP QUESTIONS - FOR THE AUTHOR AND READER

Blog posts I wrote about using social media:

GOT TROLLS?: UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR VIRTUAL BRAND

SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT IT SHOULD DO FOR AUTHORS, WRITING PROGRAMS AND SOME #RANDOM #THOUGHTS